Inside PsiStar’s exciting year: A message from the Physics Society President

27 May 2026

What began as a society centred around physics has grown into a diverse network of over 120 members from a wide range of courses, including Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, and many more. PsiStar has become a place where students from all backgrounds can connect through science, curiosity, and friendship. 

Some of the biggest highlights this year have been our social events and networking opportunities. Events such as our Nintendo Night gave attendees the opportunity to relax, build friendships, and connect outside of lectures and labs. Networking events with PhD students, alumni, and lecturers introduced members to research topics and potential career paths including gravitational waves, aerospace physics, and graph neural networks, inspiring them to explore future academic and professional opportunities. We also introduced a new PsiStar tradition: the Chemistry vs Physics Games. Students competed for the society cup through quizzes and football matches, creating a fun atmosphere of friendly rivalry and teamwork. 

A proud achievement this year has also been the continued growth of QUIRK+ — a physics conference created by students, for students. Bringing together the physics societies of Queen Mary, UCL, Imperial, King’s College London, Royal Holloway, and beyond, QUIRK+ has become an exciting chance for students to collaborate, share research interests, and connect with like-minded people across universities. This year was the second annual conference for QUIRK and was hosted at King’s College London and Cambridge, with both events selling out. 

Our trips this year were another major highlight. Members had the opportunity to visit Geneva and Lausanne in Switzerland, including tours at CERN and the EPFL Swiss Plasma Centre. Visiting some of the world’s leading scientific research centres gave students a firsthand look at cutting-edge physics research and international collaboration. PsiStar also travelled to Latvia alongside members of the robotics team, visiting the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center and learning about Rīgas Tehniskā Universitāte’s drone and aerospace research. 

Beyond academics, trips and socials, PsiStar has worked hard to create an inclusive and supportive community. Throughout the year, we celebrated diversity through events such as our Iftar gathering during Ramadan and our Holi celebration. We also focused on supporting the wider community by raising money for a local food bank and promoting Disability Awareness. These events reflected the diversity within physics and PsiStar’s commitment to ensuring every member feels welcomed, represented, and supported. 

For students interested in joining PsiStar, memberships can be purchased through QMSU starting from just £3. At the beginning of each academic year, PsiStar hosts its annual Egg Drop Challenge and icebreaker events, giving students a way to meet the committee, make friends, and connect with others who share an interest in physics. 

As PsiStar continues to grow, this year has shown just how much a passionate and supportive community can achieve together. We are incredibly proud of everything our members and committee have accomplished and look forward to seeing the society continue to expand in the years ahead. 

— Azmarea Binti Muhamad Azlan, President of PsiStar 2025/26